Ventilator for gas exhaust stacks



1965 R. F. TWICKLER 3,209,670

VENTILATOR FOR GAS EXHAUST STACKS Filed June 18, 1963 1 I INVENTOR fl aymzzd Ill M1 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,209,670 VENTILA'EUR FOR GAS EXHAUST STACKS Raymond F. Twickler, Metairie, 1.3., assignor to William 'liwickler & Sons Roofing and Sheet Metal Works, line, 1 New Orleans, La., a corporation of Louisiana Filed June 18, 1963, Ser. No. 288,816 9 Claims. (Cl. 98-84) the exhaust stack or are subject to a loss of positive draft with continuous shifting of the direction of external air currents impinging on the ventilator.

Accordingly, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved ventilator suitable for use with gas exhaust stacks.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved ventilator for use with gas exhaust stacks which will always produce a positive draft to entrain and expel the exhaust gases regardless of any change in the velocity or direction of external air currents.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ventilator for use with gas exhaust stacks which will produce a minimum amount of positive draft loss upon shifting of the direction of impinging external air currents.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ventilator having means to divert impinging external air currents in such a manner so as to produce cooperating or complementary entraining zones, depending on the direction of such air currents, for carrying off the gases form the exhaust stack.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved veltilator having a minimum number of components, each of a comparatively simple configuration.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved ventilator which is simple to assembly and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1, having a portion thereof broken away; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

In accordance with the broad aspects of the present invention there is provided a ventilator for a gas exhaust ,stack comprising a gas passage means mountable on a Jstack for directing the exhaust gases emanating from the stack upwardly toward a first entraining zone within the ventilator. Surrounding a portion of the gas passage means and the first entraining zone is a first diverting "'me'ans' for'diverting external air currents impinging thereon upwardly and outwardly toward a second entraining zone exterior of the ventilator. The first diverting means is disposed in spaced relation to the gas passage means defining an air inlet channel directing entering air currents upwardly toward the first entraining zone to initially draw ofi gases emanating from the exhaust stack. A second diverting means overlying the first diverting means is disposed in spaced relation thereto to provide a passageway to said second entraining zone for diverting air currents from the first entraining zone outwardly toward the second entraining zone.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention. Numeral 10 designates the upper end of a gas exhaust stack. The ventilator comprises a cylindrical member 11 mounted on the stack in telescopic relation and secured thereto by any suitable means. Coaxially surrounding the upper end of and extending above the cylindrical member 11 is a skirt member 12 having an inverted frusto-conically shaped portion 12a, the lower portion of which surrounds the cylindrical member in spaced relation thereto, a cylindrical portion 13 at the lower end thereof having a diameter greater than the cylindrical member 11 to provide an annular air inlet channel 14 and an outwardly projecting annular flange portion 15 at the upper end thereof. Overlying the skirt member is a cover member 16 having a dome shaped top portion 17 and a cylindrical portion 18 having a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the annular flange portion 15 of the skirt member.

Supporting each of the aforementioned components of the ventilator in their described spaced relationships is a plurality of circumferentially spaced brackets 19. As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, each bracket 19 comprises a lower vertical side edge 20 having a flange portion 21 formed along the length thereof which is secured to the cylindrical member 11, preferably by a pair of rivets 22, a diagonally extending lower side edge 23 opposite the lower side edge 20, having a flange 24 formed along the length thereof which is secured to the inverted frustoconically shaped portion of the skirt member, preferably by means of rivets 25, upper side edges 26 and 27 converging from the upper ends of lower side edges 23 and 20, respectively, and a top edge 28 having a flange 29 which is secured to the dome shaped portion 17 of the cover member preferably by means of a rivet 30.

When external air currents having an upward com ponent of force impinge upon the ventilator, a portion of such currents is caused to enter the interior of the skirt member 12 through the air inlet channel 14, which directs the air flow upwardly toward a first entraining zone 31 disposed above the air inlet channel 11 and inwardly from the inner surface of the inverted frusto-conically shaped portion of the skirt member. Gases emanating rom the stack are drawn off by the upwardly directed air flow, and are directed upwardly toward the cover member 16. Simultaneously, similar external air currents impinging on the outside surface of the skirt member are diverted upwardly and outwardly as a result of the annular flange portion 15, producing an entraining zone 32 disposed in the annular space provided between the annular flange 15 and the cylindrical portion 18 of the cover member. It will thus be appreciated that air flow emanating from the first entraining zone 31 is directed outwardly by the cover member 16 toward the second entraining zone 32, where it is further drawn off and accelerated outwardly.

Upon shifting of the wind, substantially the same entraining conditions will prevail unless the external air currents are directed either laterally or downwardly, whereupon, complementary entraining zones are produced in the aforementioned openings between the cylindrical member 11 and the lower end of the skirt member 12, and the cover member 16 and the upper end of the skirt 12, so that the exhaust gases will be drawn off as desired.

Although the general configuration of the present invention is preferably circular, it is possible that such invention may also have other configurations, including oval, oblong, square and rectangular shapes. The invention is preferably constructed from sheet metal stock, although any suitable material can be used which is durable and suited to withstand the elements of the weather and exhaust gases.

From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof as limited solely by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilator for a gas exhaust stack comprising gas passage means mountable on a stack for directing gases emanating from a stack upwardly, first diverting means surrounding a portion of said gas passage means and extending above thereof to provide a first entraining zone, for diverting air currents having an upward component of force, impinging on said gas passage means, upwardly and outwardly, said first diverting means disposed in spaced relation to said gas passage means defining an air inlet channel for directing said air currents upwardly through said first entraining zone, second diverting means overlying said first diverting means in spaced relation thereto providing a second entraining zone for diverting air currents from said first entraining zone outwardly toward said second entraining zone and third diverting means mounted on said first diverting means adjacent said second entraining zone for directing air currents impinging on said second diverting means outwardly past said second entraining zone.

2. A ventilator for a gas exhaust stack comprising gas passage means mountable in a stack for directing gases emanating from a stack upwardly, a skirt member flaring upwardly and outwardly surrounding a portion of said gas passage means and extending above thereof to provide a first entraining zone, for diverting air currents having an upward component of force, impinging on said gas passage means, upwardly and outwardly, said skirt member disposed at the lower end thereof in spaced relation to said gas passage means defining an air inlet channel for directing said air currents upwardly through said first entraining zone, cover means overlying said skirt member in spaced relation thereto providing a second entraining Zone, for diverting air currents from said first entraining zone outwardly toward said second entraining zone, spacer means for supporting said gas passage means, said skirt member and said cover means in said spaced relationships and said skirt member having diverting means disposed adjacent said second entraining zone for directing air currents impinging on said skirt member outwardly past said second entraining zone.

3. A ventilator for a gas exhaust stack comprising gas passage means mountable on a stack for directing gases emanating from a stack upwardly, a skirt member flaring upwardly and outwardly surrounding a portion of said gas passage means and extending above thereof to provide a first entraining zone for directing air currents having an upward component of force, impinging on said gas passage means, upwardly and outwardly, said skirt member having an outwardly projecting diverting flange around the upper end thereof, said skirt member disposed at the lower end thereof in spaced relation to said gas passage means defining an air inlet channel for directing said air currents upwardly through said first entraining zone, cover means overlying the upper end of said skirt member in spaced relation and overlapping said outwardly projecting diverting flange of said skirt member providing a second entraining zone and spacer means for supporting said gas passage means, said skirt member and said cover means in said spaced relationships.

4. A ventilator for a gas exhaust stack comprising a cylindrical member mountable on a stack for exhausting gas emanating from a stack upwardly, an inverted frustoconically shaped skirt member surrounding a portion of said cylindrical member and extending above thereof to provide a first entraining zone, for diverting air currents having an upward component of force, impinging on said cylindrical member, upwardly and outwardly, said skirt member disposed at the lower end thereof in spaced relation to said cylindrical member defining an air inlet channel for directing said air currents upwardly into said first entraining zone, a cover member overlying the upper end of said skirt member in spaced relation thereto providing a second entraining zone for diverting upwardly directed air currents from said first entraining zone outwardly to said second entraining zone, spacer means for supporting said cylindrical member, said skirt member and said cover member in said spaced relationships and said skirt member having diverting means disposed adjacent said second entraining zone for directing air currents impinging on said skirt member outwardly past said second entraining zone.

5. A ventilator for a gas exhaust stack comprising a cylindrical member mountable in a stack for directing gas emanating from a stack upwardly, an inverted frustoconically shaped skirt member surrounding the upper end of said cylindrical member and extending above thereof to provide a first entraining zone, for diverting air currents having an upward component of force, impinging on said cylindrical member, upwardly and outwardly, said skirt member having an outwardly projecting annular diverting flange at the upper end thereof, said skirt member disposed at the lower end thereof in spaced relation to said cylindrical member defining an air inlet channel for directing said air currents upwardly toward said first entraining zone, a cover member overlying the upper end of said skirt member and overlapping said annular diverting flange in spaced relation thereto providing a second entraining zone for diverting upwardly directed air currents from said first entraining zone outwardly toward said second entraining zone and spacer means for supporting said cylinder member, said skirt member and said cover member in said spaced relationships.

6. A ventilator for a gas exhaust stack comprising a cylindrical member mountable on a stack for exhausting said gas upwardly, an inverted frustoconically shaped skirt member surrounding the upper end of said cylinder member coaxially and extending above thereof to provide a first entraining zone for diverting air currents having an upward component of force, impinging on said cylindrical member, upwardly and outwardly, said skirt member having an outwardly projecting annular diverting flange at the upper end thereof, the lower end of said skirt member having a cylindrical portion disposed in spaced relation to said cylindrical member defining an annular air inlet directing said air currents upwardly toward said first entraining zone, a dome shaped cover member overlying said skirt member and overlapping said diverting flange in spaced relation thereto providing a second entraining zone for diverting upwardly directed air currents from said first entraining zone outwardly toward said second entraining zone and a plurality of circumferentially spaced brackets mounted on said cylindrical member for supporting said skirt member and said cover mem er in said spaced relationship relative thereto.

3,209,670 5 6 7. A ventilator according to claim 1, wherein the out- References Cited by the Examiner Ward edge of the third diverting means terminates in- UNITED STATES PATENTS wardly relative to the outer edge of the second diverting means 297,972 5/84 Day 9884 8. A ventilator according to claim 2, wherein the outer 5 3087409 4/63 Carr 98*84 edge of the diverting means terminates inwardly relative T R EFERENCES t0 the Outer Edg f th VC m n German printed application B 18,502 V/ 36d, Eisen 9. A ventilator according to claim 3, wherein the outer et 1 edge of the outwardly projecting diverting flange of the skirt member terminates inwardly relative to the outer 1 WILLIAM ODEA Actmg Primary Exammer' edge of the cover means. JOHN F. OCONNOR, Examiner. 

1. A VENTILATOR FOR A GAS EXHAUST STACK COMPRISING GAS PASSAGE MEANS MOUNTABLE ON A STACK FOR DIRECTING GASES EMANATING FROM A STACK UPWARDLY, FIRST DIVERTING MEANS SURROUNDING A PORTION OF SAID GAS PASSAGE MEANS AND EXTENDING ABOVE THEREOF TO PROVIDE A FIRST ENTRAINING ZONE, FOR DIVERTING AIR CURRENTS HAVING AN UPWARD COMPONENT OF FORCE, IMPINGING ON SAID GAS PASSAGE MEANS, UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY, SAID FIRST DIVERTING MEANS DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID GAS PASSAGE MEANS DEFINING AN AIR INLET CHANNEL FOR DIRECTING SAID SAAIR CURRENTS UPWARDLY THROUGH SAID FIRST ENTRAING ZONE, SECOND DIVERTING MEANS OVERLYING SAID FIRST DIVERTING MEANS IN SPACED RELATION THERETO PROVIDING A SECOND ENTRAINING ZONE FOR DIVERTING AIR CURRENTS FROLM SAID FIRST ENTRAINING ZONE OUTWARDLY TOWARD SAID SECOND ENTRAINING ZONE AND THIRD DIVERTING MEANS MOUNTED N SAID FIRST DIVERTING MEANS ADJACENT SAID SECOND ENTRAINING ZONE FOR DIRECTING AIR CURRENT IMPINGING ON SAID SECOND DIVERTING MEANS OUTWARDLY PAST SAID SECOND ENTRAINING ZONE. 